“I love teachers — I am one! I know firsthand how simultaneously difficult and rewarding it is to be responsible for opening the eyes, hearts and minds of precious youngsters to the beauty of learning.

Good teachers do, most definitely, deserve our deepest appreciation and thanks, which is why we dedicate an entire week of celebration to them each year.

Teaching has never been easy, but today teachers are laden with heavy burdens we were never intended to bear. The profession millions of us dreamed of embracing as our lifelong passion has been systematically refashioned into a nightmare.

California, perhaps, exemplifies this nightmare better than any state. We’re a verifiable petri dish for the numerous social, sexual and political experiments our state has imposed upon families and teachers. Brace yourself for a short-list of the nightmares:

Just this Wednesday the totalitarian state Department of Education unanimously approved a radical new health framework including concepts for young kids that parents have labeled “pornographic.” Children will be exposed to the content against the will of thousands of parents, teachers and family groups who opposed it in writing, personal testimonies, “SeXXX ed sit-outs,” and multiple massive capital protests. If our children were exposed to these same lurid concepts and images anywhere else, it would be considered child abuse.

Sweet teachers horrified by these intrusions have no idea their own unions are the culprits. Majority Democrats controlled by the California Teachers’ Association (CTA), the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and many other powerful organizations bent on sexualizing children, steamrolled their agenda over the serious concerns of moms and dads.

Unions “representing” teachers also support the burdensome discipline policies slapped on schools by the Obama administration. These policies limit suspensions and real consequences in accordance with baseless quotas and greed for federal funding. Teachers are stressed out — many experiencing symptoms of PTSD — because they’re suddenly receiving no support with major discipline problems, and have lost the authority to keep order in the classroom. Children are in danger too.

By bullying and deceiving teachers, unions have marshalled their ranks of educators to participate in Red for Ed strikes, too, angry shakedowns pitting loving teachers against California families while denying kids educational choice, safety measures in schools, and granting unions and their allies more money, power and control over every aspect of education.

There are two main ways to escape these nightmares and hundreds of others I don’t have room to mention.

First, vote out every single politician who is supported or controlled by teachers’ unions.

Second, loving teachers must stand together and hold unions accountable. Since most aren’t aware their unions are the problem, we all must adopt every teacher we know and empower them to take action. Here’s what they need to know:

We want to work with you teachers, to protect you, and pay you well. We want your classrooms to be safe. We want you to be admired and respected again — and your profession to be the sacred, blessed and noble calling it’s meant to be.

Your unions are the problem. You are the answer. Only you can stop the nightmare by defunding unions immediately. You recently won the right to independently opt out and pay unions nothing. You also have the right to stand together with a 51% vote to decertify your unions and then reorganize as “local only” non-union associations. That’s what you want anyway. We have to move quickly though because your unions are trying to raise the requirement to a two-thirds decertification vote to keep you trapped, and their favored politicians will do their bidding at your expense. Your national affiliate is attempting to pass a new bylaw to gain the authority to force trusteeship over your local if you dare question them too. Their dictatorial control is breathtaking.

You’re worried about liability coverage, right? You’ve noticed lots of good teachers are getting axed by unscrupulous administrations. That’s because your union doesn’t include protections for job actions against you — even if you’re innocent. They only cover you if you’re “sued.” There are independent organizations you can join that provide professional liability insurance including job action protections — double the coverage for a fraction of the price. Your unions don’t control your pay and pension either teachers.

I know standing up to abusive unions is scary, but adorable children gave you tender notes and sweet gifts to celebrate you this week because they believe you when you tell them you’re their protectors. I have to be honest with you fellow teachers, in an effort to protect ourselves, we’ve allowed abusers to damage the kids. We didn’t do it on purpose, but now that we know the truth, it’s our duty to protect the kids.

So teachers, let’s show appreciation to loving families by standing in solidarity with them in protection of children and against our corrupt unions and their coalition of bullies.”